An armed group from Karenni Nationalities People’s Liberation Front (KNPLF), which agreed to a ceasefire with the Burmese military junta, entered Huay Pu Kay village, Mae Hong Son province, Thailand to look for the village headman.

The group compromised two men armed with small weapons and was led by a major named ‘Yuang’ from KNPLF based in Huay Pu Luang area, on the Thai-Burma border. The group entered the village yesterday around 3:10 p.m. and searched for the village headman Maung Htan for about two hours.

“The leader had a recorder and his two followers had pistols under their clothes,” said a Huay Pu Kay villager who saw the group looking for the village headman.

However, realizing that the group was armed, Maung Htan ran away.

“They think I have contacts with the organization here [Karenni National Progressive Party]. They used to send some people to call me but I didn’t dare to go. I’m sure they’ll do something to me,” said Maung Htan who is in hiding.

Together with the group looking for the village headman, there was also a Thai, according to eye-witnesses.

The KNPLF based in Huay Pu Luang area had since last year sent letters and persons again and again asking the village headman to come and meet them. Following his refusal to go, the group entered the village to look for him.

However, letters asking him to meet the group did not give any firm reasons as to why they were calling him, said Muang Htan.

Before, Huay Pu Luang area was a Thai-Karenni border trade zone. To reopen the business zone, the KNPLF has since last year relocated about a hundred households from inside Karenni State to settle in the area.

Huay Pu Luang area is only about two kilometers from Huay Pu Kay village. Therefore, it is an area where KNPLF’s groups can easily and freely travel or enter the border.

As the group entered the village for him, Muang Htan told Kantarawaddy Times, “It’s difficult to stay here any longer. It’s dangerous.”

The KNPLF wants brass coil wearing ‘long-neck’ Kayan people who are staying in villages in Thailand to come to settle in Huay Pu Luang area. The group is also trying to open a border road for tourists to be able to enter the area.